In horrendous pain, need advice

[shakeyospeare]

Yesterday I went to the emergency dentist s with what I thought was an abscess. I couldn't swallow, had swelling and a white sore around my wisdom tooth, had pain around my jaw, into my neck and around the back of my skull. Couldn't eat or drink.

Dentist says it's an infection and gives me five days of amoxicillin - he couldn't give me anything else because I'm breastfeeding. He said I should start feeling better pretty soon after taking the antibiotics. That was 18 hours ago.

I've not slept. I got up at 4am to take more painkillers (30mg of codeine and a dose of paracetamol) this hasn't touched the pain. It's worse. I can't move head without it being agony. I can't swallow or open mouth.

What do I do? Ride this out today? Expect things to ease up?

I can't think straight because of pain

So I spoke to the doctor's, and the receptionist called through to the doctor's who have now said that if the dentist wants to wait until Thursday and won't prescribe any pain relief, they won't either as it's the dentist's call as it's tooth related rather than general health.

So now I have no dentist or doctor's appointment but I have had lots of suggestions from the dentists to take paracetamol. Which I am, but if that had any effect I wouldn't be calling up begging for help....

I think I'm just going to have to see how it goes again tonight and take it a minute at a time. I have some straws and some more of those soya chocolate pudding things so I can at least have something.

I told both the dentist and the doctor about now being able to open my mouth and struggling swallowing along with the spread ear ache and sore and achy jaw on both sides now but there wasn't any response to that.

@bobbynoggle Not anywhere in the north-west are you? Only half joking
...

*not being able to open mouth

Oh poor you. I had an abscess and I could cry just at the memory of it. I had metronidazole and it works a treat. It's just the getting hold of it!
Also, re a possible root canal after.. It's tiresome but a walk in the park compared to this. Takes ages but it's honestly, honestly not painful.
Lots of love and I joke y feel better soon.

Ring the dentist back and ask them their opinion on other anti bi's/metronidazole? Or ring the doctor back re pain relief as surely pain relief is in the remit of doctors?

i really feel for you, i ended up at A&E with mine just begging for some pain relief, ANYTHING to help.. they gave me some really strong Co-codamol.

I know it hurts, i KNOW it hurts, but again, please do try the ice pack, just make sure you wrap it in a soft towel, it will hurt like a bitch at first but the ice will help with the pain.

i ended up with a big bag of frozen peas in a towel which i held to my jaw.

PM'd you

Ps why not get another appointment at doctors, when I had caesarean infection the receptionist misdiagnosed me over the phone and wouldn't let me see the doctor so I ended up having emerg appointment at out of hours docs at the hospital on a Saturday night... surely a doctor is better informed than the receptionist?

Do keep on with the ice pack, 20/30 minutes at a time on the sorest parts. Swill with salt water if you can get it in there.

Have you any idea what your pulse/temp are? TBH if this gets much worse I would consider going to A&E or minor injuries to see if there was anything else they can do (and I'm not usually one to say A&E!)

I think your own dentist and doctor have given you poor advice without actually even seeing you. I agree with going to a&e at a hospital with a max fax department and being properly assessed. I work in theatre and we operate on several oral abscesses a week where mouth opening has been reduced to what you describe, and oral antibiotics have been having no effect.

I can sympathize as I had an infected wisdom tooth when I was 8 months pregnant.

I was crying with pain and couldn't take anything other than paracetamol and amoxicillin, the pain was horrible. I couldn't even use bonjela or anything as I was so pregnant.

Thankfully after 3 days it started to get a bit better, I can't believe the doctor won't even see you they should at least make you an appointment to see you face to face.

Bloody hell you poor thing.

So many GPs with a semi-casual attitude to severe pain

I hope you get some relief / help soon

Dentists are really limited what they give.

When DH had a nasty infection and couldn't get anything I alternated nurofen plus 500mg ibrufen/12mg of codeine with co-codamol which is 500mg paracetamol/8mg codeine.

I'm not qualified to give medical advice at all but alternating that combination gives you a four hourly dose of 40mg codeine (prescription doses are usually set at 30/60)

You won't be ODing on anything but I don't know the legalities of it.

You're all so lovely, thank you for everyone's advice.

I feel so British and awkward pushing the professionals. I hate the idea of wasting anyone's time and them saying, "oh, it's nothing! What are you here for?!" (A tremendous twat doctor once said that about 'period pains', which turned out to be endometriosis.)

I'm continuing with pain relief and swills and mouthwash and I'm going to give the OOH dentist a call as per @BobbyNoggle's advice.

I tried to open my mouth manually, just to see if it was me being cautious or it wouldn't open. It was a terrible idea and it feels a bit like I've been smacked in the face after blowing up balloons - when you get that horrible tingling feeling.

Also, whilst the codeine and co is making me feel quite fuzzy, it's crap for actually killing pain. Will keep you all updated :)

The only other otc product I can suggest is Feminax Ultra. It's naproxen which is an anti inflammatory like ibrufen just stronger.

I'm not sure what you can take with it so best to check.

I can't believe you can't get any decent painkillers, I presumed all GP's could offer it there's nothing worse then toothache.

Any improvement shakey?

OP, if you can't get through to your dentist, 111 can refer you to a dental access clinic where you can see an emergency dentist. This might be quicker for you. My dentist had no appointments but I called 111 on Thursday night and got seen first thing Friday morning.

No, actually feel worse but now panicking I'm either being a drama queen and I'll have wasted everyone's time, or it's something bad. Mouth and ears and theist are awful.

I think if it was me on my own I'd call up and go in but I've got 2 small children, one who is pretty clingy.

If I waited until tomorrow, would that be so bad? I'm almost at the point of zoning out from the pain it's that bad but I keep thinking, what if I get wherever and it's okay?

Basically I can't make a decision about what to do, which is also a new thing.

While the advice given by your dentist and GP sounds ok for a dental infection, yours sounds a bit beyond that... if you are struggling to swallow your own saliva then I would definitely second a visit to an A&E somewhere with maxillo-facial or head and neck cover... sometimes abscesses can track and cause more severe problems, and the swelling alone can be a real issue, so if things keep progressing you may need to take yourself somewhere.

Is there anyone who could have the children of you needed them to? How far are you from an A&E with max fac cover? And are you still struggling to swallow saliva? Can always chat to 111 and they can make sure you go to the right place and get seen as an expected patient so a little bit quicker...

Metronidazole in a normal oral dose is safe for breastfeeding. I am a midwife and it is used where needed. We do not advise stopping breastfeeding.

Are you on your own with DC? I think if I were you I would be seeking OOH GP help now.

Okay, noted.

So if I call 111 will they be able to advise for where best to go?

Again, that's a ridiculously obvious question but I cannot think straight

Yes they can. And yes second metronidazole being fine (but really really really don't drink while on it....) and make sure you don't underplay things, problems swallowing esp own saliva is a bit of a red flag.